Goal: Drop charges against a 19-year-old accused of having enticing conversations online with a 21-year-old Californian girl.

A teen who goes by the name Abu Sin (his real name is unknown) is facing three years in prison for a series of live-stream videos that went viral. In the videos he is seen dancing, making jokes, and trying to communicate with Christina Crockett from California. For these normal interactions, he now faces prison time. Abu Sin should not be punished for striking up a friendship with someone of the opposite sex.

The videos of the two became popular on the streaming site YouNow. Crockett met Abu Sin “guesting” him on the site. Throughout the video series the two build an endearing friendship while trying to communicate despite serious language barriers. The two were not romantically involved, but the conversations still offended many in in the deeply conservative country.

Unfortunately, Crockett has been attacked by her viewers for her involvement in this story. Rather than placing the blame on the repressive government that apprehended Abu Sin, they blame the young woman who spoke to and befriended him.

He was reportedly picked up by police while in the middle of a live-stream video after the videos with Crockett were brought to the attention of the police. Three years is a ridiculous sentence for having a chat with someone that is a different gender. Sign this petition to call for Abu Sin’s immediate release and for all charges brought against him to be dropped.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Prince Muhammad bin Nayef,

A teen that goes by the nickname Abu Sin has been apprehended and charged in Saudi Arabia for allegedly having enticing conversations online with a 21-year-old Californian girl. In the videos, the two try to communicate despite language barriers and they build a non-romantic friendship. It is absurd to punish Abu Sin for trying to make new friends and learn about the outside world. Abu Sin never would have had the chance to meet the girl in person because she lived so far away, so no conceivable harm could have ever resulted from their friendship.

It is time for Saudi Arabia to become a more modern country that accepts the new ways that technology allows us to communicate globally. You have the power to let the world know that your country is strong enough to embrace change that could improve the lives of your citizens.

Please drop the charges against Abu Sin and allow others to communicate online more freely.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: YouTube Video Posted by Chiangrai Times

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One Comment

This is Saudi, a Muslim controlled country. The people who live there have no rights at all and I sincerely doubt that the crime will be commuted. Still, we can live in hope but the fact that this is online and with a Western girl means that they will use him as an example 🙁